Balance training device

ABSTRACT

A balance training device includes a platform having three sunken holes defined near a center of the platform and three recesses defined in a bottom of the platform. Each of the recesses communicates with a corresponding one of the sunken holes. Each of three compressible members has one end mounted in a recess in the platform and is held in place by a bolt that extends through the sunken hole in the platform and is screwed into the compressible member. A base is detachably connected to the compressible members, and includes a first side having at least three blind holes defined to hold a corresponding free end of one of the compressible members and a second side having at least three grooves radially defined in the base. Three legs each has one end secured in one of the corresponding grooves to support the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a training device, and moreparticularly to a balance training device that can be used by all peopleregardless of age or sex.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A conventional balance training device such as a balance beam ora bicycle is often used to improve one's sense of balance. However, abalance beam cannot be widely used in most homes, and a bicycle can bedangerous when the user is incapable of maintaining his or her balance.

[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate thedisadvantages of the conventional balance training device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The main objective of the present invention is to provide animproved balance training device that has a simple structure and can bewidely used.

[0007] To achieve the objective, the balance training device includes aplatform having three sunken holes defined near the center of theplatform and three recesses defined in the bottom of the platform. Eachof the recesses communicates with a corresponding one of the sunkenholes. Each of three compressible members has one end received in arecess in the platform and is held in place by a bolt that extendsthrough a sunken hole in the platform and is screwed into thecompressible member. A base is detachably connected to the compressiblemembers, and includes a first side and a second side. The first side hasat least three blind holes defined to receive free ends of thecorresponding compressible member. The second side has at least threegrooves radially defined in the base. Each of three legs has one endsecured in the corresponding grooves to support the base.

[0008] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a balance training device inaccordance with the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the balance trainingdevice in FIG. 1; and

[0011]FIG. 3 is an operational perspective view of the balance trainingdevice in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] With reference to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, abalance training device in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a platform (10), at least three compressible members (12) andthe base (20). The platform (10) has a top, a bottom and a center. Oneend of each compressible member (12) is perpendicularly attached to thebottom of the platform (10). The base (20) supports a free end of thecompressible member (12).

[0013] The platform (10) includes at least three sunken holes (11)defined near the center of the platform (10). In the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the platform (10) is round and hasthree sunken holes (11), and the compressible member (12) is a spring.The three sunken holes (11) form an equilateral triangle that iscentered at the center of the platform (10). three recesses (111) aredefined in the bottom of the platform (10) and communicate with thecorresponding sunken holes (11).

[0014] Each compressible member (12) has a first end mounted in a recess(111) in the bottom of the platform (10) and has a block (121) securedin the compressible member (12). A threaded hole (122) is centrallydefined in each block (121) to attach a bolt (13) that extends throughthe sunken hole (11) in the platform (10) to hold the compressiblemember (12) in place.

[0015] The base (20) includes a first side facing the bottom of theplatform (10) and has at least three blind holes (21) defined to receivethe free end of the corresponding compressible member (12). In thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the base (20) has threeblind holes (21) defined to receive the free end of each of thecompressible members (12). The base (20) includes a second side oppositeto the platform (10). The second side of the base (20) has at leastthree grooves (22) radially defined to equally divide the second side ofthe base (20) into equal segments. In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the base (20) has three grooves (22) defined in thesecond side and each of the grooves (22) includes a top having athreaded hole (221) longitudinally defined in the base (20).

[0016] The balance training device further comprises at least three legs(23) each has a first end secured in the groove (22) in the base (20)and a second end adapted to rest on a supporting surface, such as afloor or the ground, to support the base (20). The first end of the leg(23) has a through hole (231) defined to align with the threaded hole(221) in the base (20) and allow a bolt (24) to extend through the leg(23) to be screwed into the threaded hole (221) to hold the leg (23) inplace.

[0017] The balance training device further comprises at least threesensors (30) attached to a periphery of the platform (10) and eachelectrically connected to a reactor to make a sound or turn on a lightwhen the platform (10) is horizontal.

[0018] With reference to FIG. 3, to use the balance device, the legs(23) are placed on a level supporting surface such as a floor. The userstands on the platform (10), and the compressible members (12) arepressed depending on the distribution of the user's weight so that theplatform (10) tilts until the user evenly distributes his weight on theplatform (10). The user must use his legs to cause the platform (10) tobe horizontal. The reactor will make a sound or turn on a light toprovide an entertainment effect when the platform (10) is horizontal.

[0019] The balance training device in accordance with the presentinvention includes the following advantages.

[0020] 1. The structure of the balance training device is very simple sothe price and the cost of manufacturing are reduced.

[0021] 2. The balance training device can be used by all peopleregardless of age or sex so that the balance training device will notonly be a popular training device but also an exercise device.

[0022] Although the invention has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A balance training device comprising: a platform, with a bottom and a center, having at least three sunken holes defined near the center of the platform and at least three recesses defined in the bottom of the platform, the recesses each communicating with a corresponding one of the sunken holes; at least three compressible members each having one end mounted in the recesses of the platform and held in place by bolts that extends through the sunken holes in the platform and are screwed into the compressible member; a base detachably connected to the compressible members, the base including a first side having at least three blind holes defined to receive a free end of a corresponding one of the compressible members and a second side having at least three equally spaced grooves radially defined in the base; and at least three legs each having one end secured in a corresponding one of the grooves to support the base and the other end adapted to support the balance training device on ground.
 2. The balance training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform comprises three sunken holes that form an equilateral triangle centered at the center of the platform.
 3. The balance training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressible member is a spring and a block is secured in one end of the spring, the block is received in the recess in the bottom of the platform and has a threaded hole defined to axially correspond to the sunken hole in the platform to allow the bolt to be screwed into the threaded hole in the block after extending through the sunken hole in the platform.
 4. The balance training device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the compressible member is a spring and a block is secured in one end of the spring, the block is received in the recess in the bottom of the platform and has a threaded hole defined to axially correspond to the sunken hole in the platform to allow the bolt to be screwed into the threaded hole in the block after extending through the sunken hole in the platform.
 5. The balance training device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base comprises three grooves each defined in the bottom of the base and having a threaded hole longitudinally defined in a top of the groove, and the leg has a through hole defined to align with the threaded hole in the base to allow a bolt to extend through the leg and be screwed into the threaded hole in the base to hold the leg in place.
 6. The balance training device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base comprises three grooves each defined in the bottom of the base and having a threaded hole longitudinally defined in a top of the groove, and the leg has a through hole defined to align with the threaded hole in the base to allow a bolt to extend through the leg and be screwed into the threaded hole in the base to hold the leg in place.
 7. The balance training device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising at least three sensors equally spaced around and attached to a periphery of the platform and connected to a reactor, wherein the reactor is able to make an audible or visual indication when the platform is horizontal during use of the balance training device.
 8. The balance training device as claimed in claim 6 further comprising at least three sensors equally spaced around and attached to a periphery of the platform and connected to a reactor, wherein the reactor is able to make an audible or visual indication when the platform is horizontal during use of the balance training device. 